Hargreaves & Fullan (1999) see that Parents choose the school in a way that it fits their lifestyle, financial statement, beliefs, values, because they are expecting to obtain a qualified final product therefore they choose carefully. Because they care they show responsibility for their choice. What schools should take care of is that parents can take out their children at any time if they aren’t satisfied and put them in another competitive school. This issue put a pressure on school to stay competitive and to focus on the parents and students’ needs.
Different factors influence parents’ choice. But the most important one is satisfaction and everything depends on this point. Determinants are:
- School safety: parents consider that the school should be the safest place for their children.
- Staff background and their commitment towards students and school. Parents consider that they pay to obtain a good service and to be satisfied.
- Parents and Students should feel comfortable in the learning environment (having new teaching strategies) and they are attaining their goals (succeeding in official exams, admitted in universities) plus the extra activities that they do in school as choosing the most talented team. Etc…
What was mentioned it’s just a sample of factors because it varies from one country to another because the culture plays an important role? In Lebanon the choice of parents differs also when choosing:- A religious private school: so their children have a strong religious background and disciplined students and parents usually need this.
- Non-religious private school: parents don’t care about religion just academic and activities what they are looking for.
- The school location is it near the parents’ home? Is it in a clean and urban area? Is the classroom size comfortable for children?
- A school with strong academic reputation
- Public or private one depends on the level of income of the families; however some poor families desire that their children get a good education even in public schools.
What makes a school to be competitive is what it is producing at the end; it means what is its output? Student with high success constitute the image and the future and the continuity of the organization.
School that has a good reputation attracts more students so it guaranties its future income to rise up and grow, because it works on the long run and it has a vision. Parents, considered customers of the school, choose what they know it is suitable for them and what responds to their needs.